California has such a dynamic legal landscape. As such, there are numerous opportunities for professionals who want to go further in their careers without necessarily becoming practicing attorneys.
The biggest misconception about the Master’s in Legal Studies is that you need to be a lawyer to get it. However, that is not true. Law is not restricted to only lawyers. Many people experience legal touchpoints in their careers. So, going for a masters in legal studies helps to bridge that gap.
So, if you want to expand your legal knowledge while keeping your existing job, an online Master of Legal Studies (MLS) may be the right option. Here, we will explain the degree and show you the best online MLS programs you can apply to to earn your master’s in California.
Quick Facts
- Degree Type: Graduate-level legal degree for non-lawyers
- Typical Duration: 12-24 months
- Credit Hours: 24-32 credits
- Cost Range: $24,000 – $65,000
- Bar Eligibility: No (MLS graduates cannot practice law)
- Work Experience: Not always required, but valued by most programs
How We Selected the Best Programs
Our selection of the best online Master’s in Legal Studies programs available to California students is based on several key criteria. For one, we prioritized programs from law schools with strong national rankings and American Bar Association accreditation.
Here are some other factors we put into the shortlisting of the programs:
Program Flexibility: The best online programs offer multiple start dates, flexible completion timelines, and both synchronous and asynchronous learning options to accommodate working professionals.
Specialization Options: We looked for programs offering diverse concentration tracks that align with California’s key industries, including business, technology, entertainment, healthcare, and compliance.
Admission Accessibility: Top programs have eliminated unnecessary barriers like standardized test requirements. So, that was clearly a factor.
Value Proposition: Our selections balance program cost with the quality of education, reputation of the institution, and potential return on investment for graduates.
Top Online MLS Programs Available to California Students
California has several excellent programs. However, many students prefer the online format because they are likely also actively working full-time. The online format gives them maximum flexibility, allowing them to combine both worlds.
Here are the best online MLS programs in California.
University of Southern California (USC) Gould School of Law
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Degree: Master of Studies in Law (MSL)
Format: Online with multiple start dates throughout the year; hybrid options available
Credits: 21
Program Highlights:
- Top-tier law school combining prestige with flexible online delivery
- Core courses in legal analysis, contracts, and constitutional law before electives
- Curriculum emphasizes practical application in professional settings
- Multiple start dates throughout the year for maximum flexibility
- Can be completed in as few as 16 months
GRE/LSAT Requirement: Not required
Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law
Location: Malibu, CA
Degree: Master of Legal Studies (MLS)
Format: Online with synchronous and asynchronous coursework
Credits: 32
Program Highlights:
- Ranked among top 55 law schools nationally
- Two flexible completion tracks: 16-month or 28-month options
- Mix of synchronous and asynchronous coursework for real-time interaction and flexibility
GRE/LSAT Requirement: Not required
UCLA School of Law
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Degree: Master of Legal Studies (MLS)
Format: Online, hybrid, and in-person options available
Credits: 26
Program Highlights:
- Flexible timeline options: 9 months (full-time) to 4 years (part-time)
- Ten specialization tracks plus option for custom specializations with faculty approval
- Allows students to customize learning experience based on personal preferences and circumstances
GRE/LSAT Requirement: Not required
Loyola Marymount University (LMU)
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Degree: Master of Legal Studies (MLS)
Format: Online, hybrid, and in-person options available
Credits: 24
Program Highlights
- The school has one of the top tax law programs in the U.S., according to the U.S. News & World Report.
- High job placement rates in long-term tax positions.
- Offers both LLM and Master of Tax Law (MT) degrees.
- Ten specialization tracks, including sports law.
- Allows students to customize learning experience based on personal preferences and circumstances
GRE/LSAT Requirement: Not required
Monterey College of Law
Location: Monterey, CA
Degree: Master of Legal Studies (MLS)
Format: Online or in-person options available
Credits: 36
Program Highlights:
- Flexible two-year completion timeline accommodates working professionals
- Comprehensive curriculum builds practical legal understanding without bar admission requirements
- Particularly valuable for HR professionals, healthcare managers, government regulators, non-profit administrators, court staff, and social services workers
- 36-credit program provides thorough grounding in legal principles and their real-world applications
Estimated Total Cost: $24,500
GRE/LSAT Requirement: Not required
Golden Gate University
Location: San Francisco, CA
Degree: Master of Legal Studies (MLS)
Format: Online
Credits: 30
Program Highlights:
- Established institution founded in 1901 with downtown San Francisco campus
- Highly affordable tuition at $660 per unit ($19,800 total program cost)
- One of the most cost-effective MLS programs in California
- 21 units of required legal foundations courses ensure comprehensive legal knowledge
- 9 units of electives allow customization based on career goals
- Fully online format provides maximum flexibility for working professionals
- Strong core curriculum covering essential legal subjects
Estimated Total Cost: $19,800
GRE/LSAT Requirement: Not Required
What is the Master of Legal Studies Degree?
The Master of Legal Studies is a graduate-level legal degree designed for non-lawyers who need advanced legal understanding in their professional roles. Unlike Juris Doctor (JD) graduates, MLS graduates are not eligible to sit the bar exam or practice law. Rather, it offers professionals a space in industries where legal knowledge improves job performance.
The MLS degree usually takes 24-32 credit hours and can be finished in 12-24 months, depending on whether you study full-time or part-time. This makes it substantially shorter and more cost-effective than the typical three-year JD curriculum. Meanwhile, recognized law schools continue to provide substantive legal instruction.
Who Benefits from an MLS Degree?
The MLS serves professionals across multiple industries who regularly encounter legal issues in their work. So, not a lawyer, but someone who encounters legal problems more often than the average person.
Some of the common beneficiaries include:
Technology and Cybersecurity Professionals: California’s tech sector drives demand for professionals who understand data privacy (CCPA, GDPR), intellectual property, technology transactions, and cybersecurity regulations. MLS training helps tech professionals navigate these complex legal frameworks.
Entertainment Industry Professionals: The entertainment industry in California needs professionals who understand contracts, intellectual property, rights management, and entertainment-specific regulations. MLS graduates can work in business affairs, rights management, and production legal without bar admission.
Healthcare Administrators: California’s extensive healthcare sector requires administrators who understand HIPAA compliance, California health privacy laws, medical staff bylaws, and regulatory requirements unique to the state.
Compliance Officers and Risk Managers: If a company is based in California, they are subject to many federal and state regulations. Compliance professionals with MLS training can interpret California-specific requirements, develop policies, and communicate effectively with legal counsel.
Human Resources Professionals: California’s extensive employee protection statutes, including the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, wage and hour laws, and leave requirements, make legal training particularly valuable for HR professionals in the state.
Business Executives in Regulated Industries: There are many laws with respect to environmental regulation, consumer protection, and data privacy. Executives in sectors from manufacturing to retail benefit from understanding how California’s regulatory environment affects their operations.
Core Curriculum and Learning Experience
Online MLS programs cover the same foundational legal principles as JD programs but with a practical focus suited to non-lawyer professionals. Understanding the typical curriculum helps prospective students assess whether the degree aligns with their learning goals.
Foundational Courses
Most programs begin with core courses that provide essential legal knowledge:
Legal Research and Writing: Students learn to read cases, statutes, and regulations; conduct legal research using databases like Westlaw or LexisNexis; and communicate legal analysis clearly in writing. These skills prove invaluable in any professional role involving legal documents or issues.
Contracts: Contract law governs business relationships, employment agreements, vendor relationships, and countless other professional interactions. This course covers contract formation, interpretation, enforcement, and remedies for breach.
Torts: Tort law addresses civil wrongs and the liability that results from them. Professionals benefit from understanding negligence, intentional torts, product liability, and defamation, as these issues frequently arise in business contexts.
Constitutional Law: Understanding constitutional principles, government structure, and individual rights provides context for all other legal study and helps professionals navigate public policy and regulatory issues.
Civil and Criminal Procedure: Procedural courses explain how legal disputes move through the court system, from initial filing through trial and appeal. This knowledge helps professionals work effectively with litigation counsel and understand legal processes.
Specialized Electives
After completing foundational courses, students choose electives aligned with their career goals and interests. The breadth of available electives varies by institution, but commonly includes:
Business and Corporate Law: Courses in business organizations, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, securities regulation, and commercial law serve professionals in business environments.
Intellectual Property: Given California’s technology and entertainment industries, IP courses in patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret law attract strong student interest.
Healthcare Law: Courses cover HIPAA compliance, healthcare reform, medical liability, FDA regulation, and healthcare administration law.
Employment and Labor Law: These courses address workplace discrimination, wage and hour laws, labor relations, employee benefits, and employment contracts.
Environmental Law: California’s leadership in environmental regulation makes these courses particularly relevant, covering topics like environmental impact assessment, clean air and water regulations, and climate change law.
Compliance and Risk Management: Specialized courses teach students to design compliance programs, conduct internal investigations, and manage legal risk in organizational settings.
Technology, Privacy, and Cybersecurity Law: As data privacy and cybersecurity concerns grow, courses in this area become increasingly important, covering topics like data protection, privacy regulations, and cybersecurity requirements.
Online Learning Format
Quality online MLS programs employ various pedagogical approaches to deliver effective legal education remotely:
Synchronous Sessions: Live online classes allow real-time interaction with professors and classmates through video conferencing. These sessions facilitate discussion, Q&A, and collaborative learning.
Asynchronous Content: Recorded lectures, readings, and assignments that students complete on their own schedule provide flexibility for working professionals.
Discussion Forums: Online discussion boards enable students to engage with course material and each other outside of live sessions, fostering a learning community.
Virtual Simulations: Some programs use simulations or case studies that allow students to apply legal principles to realistic scenarios.
Capstone Projects: Many programs culminate in a capstone project or thesis, in which students demonstrate their ability to analyze complex legal issues in their professional field.
Admissions Process and Requirements
While specific requirements vary by institution, understanding common admission criteria helps prospective students prepare strong applications.
Educational Prerequisites
All programs require a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. Most programs don’t specify required undergraduate majors, welcoming applicants from diverse academic backgrounds. Some programs prefer applicants with professional work experience, though this isn’t always mandatory.
Minimum GPA requirements typically range from 2.75 to 3.0, though competitive programs may have higher expectations. Applicants with lower GPAs can sometimes compensate with strong professional experience or other application elements.
Standardized Testing
Increasingly, MLS programs are eliminating standardized test requirements. Most of the programs discussed in this guide do not require GRE, GMAT, or LSAT scores. This trend reflects research showing these tests poorly predict success in professional legal studies and unnecessarily exclude qualified candidates.
Application Materials
Complete applications typically include:
Transcripts: Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended, showing degree conferral and grades.
Personal Statement: An essay explaining your interest in legal studies, career goals, and reasons for choosing the specific program. Strong statements connect your background and aspirations to the program’s offerings.
Resume or CV: A current professional resume highlighting relevant work experience, accomplishments, and skills.
Letters of Recommendation: Most programs require two to three letters from individuals who can speak to your academic ability, professional competence, and potential for graduate study. Choose recommenders who know you well and can provide specific examples.
Writing Sample: Some programs request a writing sample that demonstrates analytical and communication skills. This might be an academic paper, a professional report, or an essay written specifically for the application.
Application Timeline
Many online programs offer multiple start dates throughout the year, providing flexibility in when you begin your studies. However, application deadlines typically fall several months before the program start date. Review each program’s specific deadlines and plan to submit applications well in advance.
Financial Considerations and Return on Investment
Graduate education is always a significant financial commitment, but California’s high-earning job market often gives students strong returns on MLS studies. Online MLS programs typically cost between $24,000 and $70,000 for the complete degree. California-based programs:
Career Opportunities for MLS Graduates in California
California’s diverse economy creates abundant opportunities for MLS graduates across numerous sectors.
Compliance and Risk Management
Compliance officers ensure organizations adhere to legal and regulatory requirements. In California, compliance roles exist in healthcare, financial services, technology, entertainment, and countless other industries. MLS graduates bring legal knowledge that allows them to interpret regulations, develop policies, train staff, and work effectively with legal counsel and regulators..
Human Resources Management
HR professionals increasingly need legal knowledge to navigate complex employment laws. California’s extensive employee protection statutes make legal training particularly valuable for HR professionals in the state. MLS graduates understand discrimination law, wage and hour requirements, leave policies, and workplace safety regulations.
Contract Administration and Negotiation
Many organizations employ contract administrators or managers who negotiate, draft, and manage contracts. Technology companies, entertainment studios, government agencies, and healthcare systems all need professionals who understand contract law and can manage agreements effectively. MLS training provides the legal foundation for success in these roles.
Healthcare Administration
California’s vast healthcare sector requires administrators who understand HIPAA compliance, healthcare reform requirements, medical staff bylaws, and regulatory matters. MLS graduates can serve as compliance officers, privacy officers, or administrative directors in hospitals, medical groups, health plans, and other healthcare organizations.
Financial Services Compliance
Banks, investment firms, insurance companies, and other financial institutions must comply with extensive federal and state regulations. California-based financial services firms need compliance professionals who understand securities law, banking regulations, anti-money laundering requirements, and consumer protection laws. These roles offer competitive salaries and strong job security.
Technology and Intellectual Property Management
California’s technology sector drives innovation in software, hardware, biotechnology, and other fields. Tech companies need professionals who understand intellectual property protection, technology licensing, data privacy, and regulatory compliance. MLS graduates can serve as IP coordinators, privacy specialists, or technology transaction managers.
Government and Public Sector
Federal, state, and local government agencies employ numerous professionals in legal and policy roles that don’t require bar admission. Legislative analysts, regulatory specialists, contract administrators, and program managers all benefit from legal training.
Nonprofit and Education Administration
Nonprofit organizations and educational institutions deal with tax law, governance requirements, employment regulations, and program compliance. MLS graduates can serve as executive directors, compliance officers, or administrators in these mission-driven organizations.
Tips on Making Your Decision
Choosing to pursue an online MLS degree is a significant decision, and you want to get it right. Let’s think through what matters most for your situation and California’s unique professional landscape.
Before diving into program comparisons, take a moment to get clear on what you’re actually trying to accomplish:
Think about your industry: Are you navigating data privacy regulations at a Bay Area tech company? Working your way up in entertainment business affairs in LA? Managing compliance at a California healthcare system? Each of these paths benefits from different types of legal knowledge.
Consider where you are in your career: If you’re early in your career, you might be building foundational knowledge to stand out. Mid-career? You’re probably eyeing that next promotion that requires legal chops. Looking to pivot entirely? An MLS can be your bridge into compliance, privacy, or legal-adjacent roles that didn’t seem accessible before.
The clearer you are about what you want, the easier it becomes to figure out which program actually fits your life and goals.
Finding Your Program Match
Not all specializations are created equal, especially in California’s economy.
If you’re in tech: You need privacy law, and lots of it. CCPA and CPRA aren’t going anywhere, and California leads the nation on data protection. Look for programs with strong IP, cybersecurity, and privacy curricula. UCLA’s IP track is excellent, USC brings solid technology focus, and American University really leans into cybersecurity.
If you’re in entertainment: You want programs that understand the business. UCLA and USC have the advantage here. They’re in LA, their faculty work in the industry, and they get what entertainment law actually looks like day-to-day.
If you’re in healthcare: Both federal regulations and California’s own health privacy laws matter. You need programs that don’t just skim the surface on compliance but really dig into healthcare-specific challenges.
If you’re in HR or employment: California’s employment laws are notoriously complex. Meal breaks, rest breaks, wage orders, there’s a lot. Programs with California-based faculty will understand these nuances in ways that national programs might not.
If you’re in compliance or risk management: Corporate compliance tracks are your friend, especially ones that address California’s consumer protection landscape. Fordham specializes in this, but California programs with strong business law offerings work great too.
Reputation Of The Program
USC, UCLA, and Pepperdine have instant name recognition with California employers. When someone sees that on your resume, they get it immediately. National programs like Fordham, American, and Washington University are respected too, but you might need to explain your choice more in interviews.
California-based programs also come with something valuable: alumni networks that are deeply embedded in the state’s industries. That casual connection with someone who graduated five years ago and now works at your dream company? That’s real career currency.
Career Support
California-based programs have a built-in advantage here. They already have relationships with California employers. Their career fairs feature companies you actually want to work for. Their alumni are working where you want to be.
Ask programs directly: Where do your graduates work? Which California companies recruit from your program? Can you connect me with alumni in my industry? If they can’t give you good answers, that’s worth knowing.
Finances
Total program costs run $24,000 to $68,000. That’s a real investment. However, California’s high salaries often justify the investment faster than in other states.
Talk to People Who’ve Done This
Before you apply anywhere, talk to people who’ve actually completed these programs and work in California.
Join information sessions and ask California-specific questions. Ask about California alumni outcomes, California employer partnerships, how the curriculum addresses state regulations.
Visit campuses if you can. USC, Pepperdine, and UCLA all welcome prospective students. You’ll get a feel for the program’s California connections that you just can’t get from a website.
Preparing Your Application
Your Personal Statement
This is where you tell your story, and your California context is part of that story. Talk about the legal challenges you’re facing in your actual California work. Maybe it’s navigating CCPA compliance, managing employment issues under California’s protective laws, or handling contracts in the entertainment industry. Be specific. Show you understand why legal knowledge matters in your world.
If you’re applying to California programs, explain why being in California matters to you. If you’re applying to national programs, explain what they offer that you can’t get locally.
Get Recommendations
The best recommendations come from people who can tell specific stories about you, not just check boxes about your general competence.
Application Your Timeline
2-3 months out: Research mode. Figure out what you need, which programs offer it, start talking to alumni.
3-6 months before you want to start: Application mode. Write your statements, get your recommendations lined up, and submit applications. Don’t forget financial aid applications.
After acceptance: Decision time. Compare your offers. Think about total cost vs. what you’ll likely earn in California. Consider networking advantages. Trust your gut about which program feels right.
Before you start: Tell your employer. Connect with other incoming students in California. Figure out your schedule.
The bottom line is to pick the program that fits your actual schedule, your budget, your career goals, and your industry.
Conclusion
California gives opportunities for professionals who want to advance their careers through legal education without becoming practicing attorneys. Online MLS programs from schools like USC, Pepperdine, and UCLA are flexible options that accommodate the busy lives of working professionals.
Take the next step by researching programs that align with your goals and connecting with admissions teams to learn more. California’s online MLS programs stand ready to help you achieve your professional aspirations while maintaining your current commitments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I practice law with a Master of Legal Studies degree?
No, an MLS degree does not mean you can practice law or take the California bar exam. If you want to represent clients or appear in court, you’ll need to pursue a Juris Doctor (JD) degree instead.
How long does it take to complete an online MLS program while working in California?
Most programs take 12-24 months. Full-time students finish in 12-16 months, while part-time students take 20-24 months. UCLA offers the most flexibility with timelines extending to four years for California professionals who need maximum schedule accommodation.
Do California employers recognize MLS degrees from out-of-state programs?
Yes, particularly when the programs come from well-ranked law schools. California employers value the legal knowledge and specialized training regardless of the school’s location. However, California-based programs offer advantages in local networking and California-specific legal content.